There was a recent episode of Intervention that was a documentary about the meth labs that dot the hard scrabble landscape of the mid West & deep South of the United States. This could be one of many stories that emerged out of (I'm sure)many stories dealing with the denizens of that sorry existence. A 17 year-old girl,Dolly Rae,who's father is a "cooker" (producer of meth,or crank as they call it)is on the run from the police for a non appearance at his court trial for drug manufacture. The sheriff is threatening Dolly,her two siblings & catatonic mother with being thrown off their land if the father doesn't turn up soon. It's up to Dolly to find her father & make things right. This is a very well written,directed & acted drama about how times change (and not for the better),and is bleak & somewhat depressing to watch,but easy to appreciate. Jennifer Lawrence heads a cast of mostly unknowns,but does include John Hawkes (known mostly for his work in television dramas),as her Uncle,Teardrop (the closest thing she has to family,other than her own close knit,but fractured family),and Sheryl Lee (who will always be known for her role in Twin Peaks,as well as it's prequel,Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me,as Laura Palmer,although she did appear at the end of David Lynch's Wild At Heart,as the good witch),as April. Debra Granik (Down To The Bone,Snake Feed)directs from a screenplay written by Anne Rosellini & Granik,adapted from the novel by Daniel Woodrell. The film gets some it's bleak,pessimistic look from cinematographer Michael McDonough,with editing by Affonso Goncalves. Well worth checking out if you have had your fill of superficial Hollywood crud. Rated 'R'by the MPAA for salty language,drug use & some disturbing images
Review of Winter's Bone
